Meet the Author

The FermentedlyChallenged blog has been retired since the end of October 2016. It has been a great 9 year run. Thanks to all the readers and brewery staff for all your support in the past. I'm living in the Denver metro area and working in the Cable TV industry now. Cheers and enjoy beer responsibly. Follow along on social media - @ChipperDave on Twitter and on Facebook.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Rest in Peace Leonard Nimoy. Today's post is dedicated to the memory of one of our favorite actors who passed away today. Let us all lift a glass of our favorite craft beer and toast to his legacy. Live Long and Prosper! And thanks for all the great memories too. He will be missed. Here's what's happening around the Colorado craft beer scene today Friday, February 27th, 2015. If you aren't reading this article on FermentedlyChallenged.com, you don't know what you're missing.

FERMÆNTRA - New beer tapped today. Stop in for a pint of Sidereal, a sessionable 5% ABV Blonde Rye. It has the aromas of honey, cornbread and biscuit with a subtle orange spice aftertaste. [1715 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO]

Copper Kettle Brewing Co - Surprise! Normally they tap firkins on Wednesday, but they decided to tap one today as well! Drop in to taste their Coffee Black IPA firkin. It's an old fan favorite. Plus, B&B Smokehouse will be on site tonight starting at 4pm when you get the munchies.Golden City Brewery - Take Home Special! Get 6-packs of Legendary Red Ale for $4.50, or $18 for a case (24). This price is good for "to go" only. Get stocked up before the next snow storm. [920 12th St, Golden, CO]

Denver Beer Co - Kick off your weekend with a tapping of "Miss Daisy's Chocolate Milk Stout". On tap now just in time for your weekend. [1695 Platte St, Denver, CO]

Odyssey Beerwerks - They're down to their last keg of Belgian Red IPA and just a half keg left of their Belgian Black (also available in cans). And in honor of the late Leonard Nimoy, they are renaming their Dubbel Dragon to Spock's Dubbel. [5535 W 56th Ave, Ste 107, Arvada, CO]

Wit's End Brewing Co - Newly tapped today: Ambition, a black coffee stout. If you're one of the first few customers, they'll even let you take home a 40 of it. Open today 2pm to 8pm. [2505 W 2nd Ave, Unit 13, Denver, CO]

Breckenridge Brewery - A reminder of their Batch #2 Barleywine bottle release party tonight starting at 6pm at their place on Kalamath St. This brew was aged on French Oak Cabernet barrels. Also, a limited number of cellared Batch #1 Barleywine bottles will be available on a 1st come 1st served basis. [471 Kalamath St, Denver, CO]

Cannonball Creek Brewing Co - They've tapped another in their series of Single Hop IPA's today. Stop in and taste this brew made with Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand. It'll remind you a bit of white wine, gooseberry and herbalness. [393 N Washington Ave, Golden, CO]

CAUTION: Brewing Co - Don't miss their new tapping of "Tira-Moo-Su Milk Stout" - now on tap. Limited batch so grab one while it's on. Live music from Tim Stiles at West tonight from 6-9pm. Betty's pouring over at East from 3-8pm. [1057 S Wadsworth Blvd, Unit 60, Lakewood, CO]

Left Hand Brewing Co - On the beer engine now is their latest creation: Sawtooth Ale with Grains of Paradise, and a bit of peppery West African spice. Try that one side by side with their classic Sawtooth and Sawtooth on nitro and compare the differences. [1265 Boston Ave, Longmont, CO]

Horse & Dragon Brewing Co - Returning to the taps today is Fire Captain Irish Red Ale - on nitro! $1 of every pint sold in the taproom will be donated to the Firefighter Community Compassion Fund. Drink for a good cause! [124 Racquette Dr, Ft. Collins, CO]

Like us on Facebook - There's even more Colorado beer happenings and discussions on the Fermentedly Challenged Facebook Page. Find recaps, photos, special offers, and tips that you won't find on the blog.

Colorado Beer News is published on Fermentedly Challenged daily (Monday through Friday) with craft beer stories as they break from newsletters, emails and social media sites. This news is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+). If you'd like to subscribe to this daily by email, sign-up here. Please, always drink responsibly and use a designated driver.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Tis the season for Winter seasonal beers. But Spring beers are already making their debut. Enjoy this cross-over period between the cold, the dark and the lighter Spring brews. You're almost to the weekend! If you just can't wait till then - you should read today's Colorado Beer News to see what's new and tapping around the Front Range. Here's what's happening around the Colorado craft beer scene today Thursday, February 26th, 2015. If you aren't reading this article on FermentedlyChallenged.com, you don't know what you're missing.

Bull & Bush Brewery - Some of the staff from Bull & Bush Brewery will be featured on the American Craft Beer Radio show this Saturday, February 28th - broadcast live from the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Denver. Listen in to host Gary V and company as they talk all things craft beer. Tune in to 105.5 FM ESPN Denver from 12pm to 1pm MST. Come watch them do their show live - there will be some swag given away. Or just come down to the brewery and have a pint or two. [4700 Cherry Creek Dr South, Denver, CO]

Big Choice Brewing - Fans of their 10,000 Summers Saison will want to come to the brewery this Sunday, March 1st and get some of the first 16oz 4-packs of this new into cans beer. The 4-packs will sell for $9 each. [7270 W 118th Pl, Broomfield, CO]

Dry Dock Brewing Co - Come celebrate St. Patty's Day a bit early starting on March 14th. On that day you'll be able to drink your fill of their Dry Dock Irish Stout and also their Irish Red. There'll be Celtic Step dancers, an Irish band and a food truck serving up corned beef burritos. That's for your Saturday, March 14th at South Dock. In the meantime, Friday's firkin is a Double Chocolate DoppleDock. And on Saturday at North Dock they'll tap a Chocolate Hefeweizen. [15120 E Hampden Ave, Aurora, CO] Living The Dream Brewing Co - [PRESS RELEASE] On Wednesday, March 4, Living the Dream Brewing Company in Littleton will donate 20 percent of sales from all pints sold from 6-8pm to the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD). The event is one of many initiatives the brewery has taken on during its first year to give back to the community. In addition, companies like the Alamo DraftHouse, Starbucks, Rock Wood Fire Kitchen, and Murdoch’s have contributed items to the silent auction to raise funds that will be going towards the NSCD’s scholarship fund. NSCD athletes and volunteers will also be on-hand to share their experiences and accomplishments in NSCD programs. Living the Dream Brewing Company opened in July of 2014 and is located near Santa Fe and Highlands Ranch Parkway. Carrie Knose, an owner of Living the Dream Brewing Company, was connected to the NSCD, particularly their winter programs, as she volunteered with a program similar to the NSCD in the Lake Tahoe area prior to moving to Colorado to start the brewery. The NSCD provides outdoor therapeutic offerings to over 3,000 people with disabilities year-round. Based out of Winter Park Resort and Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the NSCD helps athletes with almost any type of disability learn new sports and set goals. The event is put together by Confluence, a consulting firm that helps businesses and communities connect more strategically to generate greater positive impacts and winning relationships. For more details about the event, please visit the event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/421423134674962. [12305 Dumont Way, Unit A, Littleton, CO]

Mu Brewery - Come for Kill the Keg Thursday today. They'll tap a single keg of Cranberry Pilsner. Get $1 pints and/or $2 32oz growler fill or $4 64oz growler fills of that brew. Some new brews are waiting for this keg to get killed - so drink up! To the person who Kills the Keg tonight you'll receive a pair of free tickets to see Big Fish at the Aurora Fox. [9735 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO]

Baere Brewing Co - Don't let the snow get you down! They've got a freshly kegged batch of their Barrel Hoppy Brown (Batch 3) up on tap as well as plenty of Imperial Stout left over. They will be open from 5pm to 9pm tonight.

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project - When a beer gets ready a bit earlier than expected then they'll put it on tap! Why wait?! So tonight at 6pm they will tap their "L'Brett d'Pluot", a golden sour ale aged in oak barrels with pluots (plum/apricot hybrid). Get a full glass for $12 or a taster for $4. [3350 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO]

Strange Craft Beer Co - Want to get warm and toasty? Stop by and try their new beer "Le Bruit du Diable", a farmhouse ale. Also, Brook's Smokehouse will be on site serving up tasty food. [1330 Zuni St, Ste M, Denver, CO]

Declaration Brewing - Snow Day Special - 20% Off All Beers - All Day Today! Plus, Jessie's Smokin' NOLA is on site today with some awesome food. [2030 S Cherokee St, Denver, CO]

Joyride Brewing Co - In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Led Zeppelin double album Physical Graffiti, Joyride will be hosting a double beer release tomorrow. The first beer is Emerald Irish Stout (on nitro tap), and also Czech the Rhime, a Czech-style Pilsner (their first lager). Make plans to Hop On! [2501 Sheridan Blvd, Edgewater, CO]

Oskar Blues Brewery - GUBNA IMPERIAL IPA returns with new hop bill chosen by O.B. staff - [PRESS RELEASE] Oskar Blues' spring seasonal, GUBNA Imperial IPA, rolls out in March with a new hop bill featuring some of the most exciting and aromatic hops, all of which were sniffed out by Oskar Blues staff at concurrent hop selection panels at both breweries. Each year GUBNA is reinvented, taking the season's highest quality hops and creating a formidable and complex Imperial IPA. Coming in at 100+ international bitterness units and 10 percent ABV, this inimitable beer is an IPA unlike any other. Available on tap and in 12-ounce 4-packs, this hop grenade joins the diabolical Oskar Blues roster from March until July each year. Mash-hopped with whole-leaf Galena hops, our brewers then kettle hop with Columbus and Sorachi Ace, which spikes GUBNA 5.0 with spicy, blackcurrant notes and lemon zest overtones. The brewing is then finished with more Galena hops in the whirlpool to accent these aromas. These colossal hop varieties fuel a serious assault on the senses, balanced by the satisfying warmth of 10 percent ABV. The 2015 GUBNA is dry-hopped with prodigious amounts of El Dorado, Comet, and Chinook hops. These hops create a dank, dense nose and unique blend of grapefruit, apricot, pineapple and herbs, while finishing clean and bitter, but smooth. The GUB sits on a base of Rye, North American Pale, and Munich malts, which offers a smooth and flavorful backbone to support the gargantuan load of hops. In honor of the GUBNA, Oskar Blues North Carolina Brewery will host a release party on Saturday, March 7, 2015. Oskar Blues invites all governors, whether of states or television/comic book series, to attend and quaff a GUBNA. The 2015 release party will offer specialty barrel-aged and firkin varieties of GUBNA 5.0, along with CHUBurgers from the CHUBwagon, free brewery tours, a giant Nintendo 64 to play, and live music from indie rock Darby Wilcox and the Peep Show. The Longmont Tasty Weasel will release the 2015 GUBNA on Friday, February 27, accompanied by live music from bluesy duo Boa & Jodi. (Image courtesy Oskar Blues Brewery) [1800 Pike Rd, Longmont, CO]

Mountain Sun Breweries - It's the last 3 days of Stout Month! Today they are releasing two more stouts. Their friends at Avery Brewing sent over a keg of Avery's Tweak imperial coffee stout (17.8% ABV). And also, the Mountain Sun team brewed up "Totally Stoked Stout", a smoked malt brew with vanilla extract and aged on oak spirals and then aged further in Maker's Mark Bourbon barrels (8.3% ABV). Find Totally Stoked tapped over at their Longs Peak Pub and Taphouse location. Friday it will tap at Vine Street Pub (Denver) and Saturday at Southern Sun Pub & Brewery (Boulder). Also, check out their Facebook page and find out about their Mutton Chop Competition that starts today. [1535 Pearl St, Boulder, CO]

Boulder Beer Co - Starting next week (March), Boulder Beer Company will release a brand new spring seasonal beer - Emergent White IPA. Join in at the brewery and pub on March 6th at 4pm for the first tapping of this new brew. [2880 Wilderness Pl, Boulder, CO]

The Post Brewing Co - Think you've got a winning homebrew recipe? Enter the "Lil' Brewer Buddy 2015" Homebrew competition. Drop off your best homebrew to the brewery by April 15, 2015 2pm. The best beer will win a day with The Post Brewmaster - Bryan Selders. The winner will collaborate, create and brew a beer on The Post's brew system. [105 W Emma St, Lafayette, CO]

Upslope Brewing - Available Next Week! 12-packs of Upslope's Craft Lager will start hitting store shelves the 1st week of March. 1% of all Craft Lager can sales will be donated to local Trout Unlimited chapters in the state where the beer is purchased. [1898 S Flatiron Ct, Boulder, CO]

Big Beaver Brewing Co - Come to a special Silent Auction at Big Beaver Brewing this Saturday, February 28th from 3-7pm. They are trying to raise money for Staci Wynn in her fight against cancer. Items for auction include gift certificates to local bars and restaurants, gift baskets, alcohol, raffle prizes, guitar, snow blower, jewelry and more. You do not need to be present to win auction items. Also, a big portion of Big Beaver's sales that day will be donated as well. Then stop back on Sunday, March 1st for Bingo at 4pm. Cost is $10 for 1.5 hours of play, or $2 per game. Games run from 4:30pm - 6pm. [2707 W Eisenhower Blvd, Unit 9, Loveland, CO]

Loveland Aleworks - In yesterday's blog post, you learned about the 5 winter seasonal beers they have on tap now. Back in the brewhouse, things are expanding! They are awaiting the arrival of a new 20 bbl fermentor in late Spring that will increase their brewing capacity by 50%. Their barrel aging program is also expanding with the addition of 32 oak barrels from regional and national distilleries. This has doubled their cellaring capacity. They will be releasing their first barrel aged Tripel next week to kick off the new project. [118 W 4th St, Loveland, CO]

New Belgium Brewing - New Belgium expands distribution to Kentucky [PRESS RELEASE] Fans of New Belgium Brewing no longer have to cross the border into Indiana, Ohio or Tennessee. Starting March 2, New Belgium Brewing will begin distributing in Kentucky, expanding the brewery’s distribution to 38 states. New Belgium will offer the brewery’s flagship beer Fat Tire, along with year-round releases Ranger IPA, Slow Ride Session IPA and Snapshot Wheat on draft and in 12-ounce bottles. Seasonal releases, along with Rampant Imperial IPA, Trippel Belgian-Style Ale and New Belgium’s variety packs will also be available in 12-ounce packages. “We've been eyeing Kentucky for quite a while, so it’s exciting to officially open up the state,” said New Belgium Brewing’s Sales Co-Pilot, Brian Krueger. “The glory of college basketball is upon us and the Derby isn't too far off, so we’re arriving at a pretty fun time in the state.” [500 Linden St, Ft. Collins, CO]

Wiley Roots Brewing Co - Come listen to live music from The Burroughs tonight from 7-9pm for their bi-weekly jam session. Plus food outside from Elements Wood Fired Oven will be on hand. Plenty of beer on tap today. Stop in to enjoy some. [625 3rd St, Unit D, Greeley, CO]

WeldWerks Brewing Co - You might have seen their doors open already over the last week, but it's time to do it right. Their official Grand Opening Celebration will take place on Saturday, March 7th all day from 2pm til 11pm. Enjoy live music, food, and delicious beer from Greeley's newest craft brewery. Located at the corner of 8th Ave and 5th Street in downtown Greeley. [508 8th Ave, Greeley, CO]

Pateros Creek Brewing Co - Today's Outlaw Tap is a tribute to Bill Withers who made the song "Ain't No Sunshine" famous. This Kolsch-style beer with the same name as the song was made along with Rooibos Strawberry Sunshine tea from Happy Lucky's Teahouse. [242 N College Ave, Ft. Collins, CO]

Crazy Mountain Brewing Co - [PRESS RELEASE] Edwards, Colo. – On February 27th Crazy Mountain Brewing Company is teaming up with Pink Vail, the world’s largest ski day to conquer cancer, and throwing a keg tapping party for Pink Vail Fruit Ale from 5-8 PM. This delightfully fruity beer features raspberry, pomegranate and red currant flavors yielding a slight sweetness complimented by a tangy zest. Stop by for a pint of this antioxidant rich beer that is light and crisp on the palate. Crazy Mountain Brewery will be offering $2 Pints of our specialty Pink Vail Fruit Ale and live music by the Trevor G. Potter Band. If patrons sign up to be on a Pink Vail team, during the party, they will receive one free pint. Last year Pink Vail was able to raise over 500,000 dollars to support their spirit of survivor program and Crazy Mountain Brewery is proud to partner with Pink Vail on even more successful fundraising endeavors in 2015. Pink Vail Fruit Ale will be available on draft and in 6 pack cans throughout the Vail Valley starting February 27th. For more information on Crazy Mountain Brewing Company or our events, please call 970-926-3009 or email Drink@CrazyMountainBrewery.com.

Like us on Facebook - There's even more Colorado beer happenings and discussions on the Fermentedly Challenged Facebook Page. Find recaps, photos, special offers, and tips that you won't find on the blog.

Colorado Beer News is published on Fermentedly Challenged daily (Monday through Friday) with craft beer stories as they break from newsletters, emails and social media sites. This news is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+). If you'd like to subscribe to this daily by email, sign-up here. Please, always drink responsibly and use a designated driver.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

A Snowy Hump Day for the last Wednesday in February! Do your best to stay warm. One place you'll always stay warm at is at your favorite local Colorado craft brewery taproom. Lots of specials on today. Pick a spot and hunker down for a while. Here's what's happening around the Colorado craft beer scene today Wednesday, February 25th, 2015. If you aren't reading this article on FermentedlyChallenged.com, you don't know what you're missing.

De Steeg Brewing - To help continually improve their beer at De Steeg, they have just acquired several new stainless fermenters. The newest batches will be coming out of them very soon. They opened early today - drop on by. [4342 Tennyson St, Denver, CO] Rockyard Brewing Co - The snow is falling once again so when you head indoors, head to Rockyard Brewing. Tonight is Ladies Night, happy hour prices on beer and well drinks. Grab some food there while you're at it. [880 Castleton Rd, Castle Rock, CO]

Two22 Brew - Since it's supposed to snow again, drop by tonight to fill up your growlers and get $1 off on fills. You can also get some snacks from the Happy Hour Market. [4550 S Reservoir Rd, Centennial, CO]

Declaration Brewing - Something new is in the taproom and is just waiting for you to try it. Come check out their new foosball table and have a beer or two. They are open until 8pm tonight. Mike and Greg will be giving tours tonight at 6:30pm as well. [2030 S Cherokee St, Denver, CO]

Stout Street Social - Mark your calendar for next Wednesday, March 4th from 6-8pm. That's the day that Riff Raff Brewing of Pagosa Springs will be releasing two new beers at Stout Street Social. One is Weapon of Self Destruction Russia Imperial Stout and the other is a 99 Shilling Scottish Ale. This Denver locale is one of the first Denver restaurants to offer Riff Raff beers. [1400 Stout St, Denver, CO]

Living The Dream Brewing Co - Here's some new beer releases you'll want to try: Dunkel Eddie, South Island Wit, and an experimental Belgian Pale (taps Thursday). And don't forget their "Wax N' Pint Night" tonight. Get your skis or board waxed and have a pint. For only $15, Eskimo Ski & Board shop will get your gear ready for the mountain while you enjoy a delicious beer. It's not like you really need an excuse to come to the brewery on a Wednesday but now you have one. [12305 Dumont Way, Unit A, Littleton, CO]

Left Hand Brewing Co - Today is Free Pint Wednesday. Get a free pint with the purchase of any growler fill. Then this Saturday, February 28th at 1am in the Tasting Room, Left Hand Brewing will tap the first keg of Great Juju, their imperial ginger beer. Time to get your juju voodoo! [1265 Boston Ave, Longmont, CO]

12Degree Brewing - Good news! As of today, their "Walter's White" is back on tap. There's also two guest beers on tap this week: Crooked Stave's Surette and Saison DuPont (farmhouse ale). [820 Main St, Louisville, CO]

Oskar Blues Brewery - Guess who's coming back? This Friday, February 27th, the Gubna Imperial IPA will return. This years batch has got an excellent mix of hop varieties in it. Stop by the Tasty Weasel Taproom and have a glass. [1800 Pike Rd, Longmont, CO]

New Belgium Brewing - New Belgium is already prepping for this year's Clips of Faith Beer & Film Tour and are asking everyone to submit short films for consideration for this event. The tour will go to over 20 cities nationwide and your film could be shown there. Submissions are open now for a short time. For more information, check out their official website.

Black Bottle Brewery - Let's get Luckin' Crazy! Last night, Black Bottle Brewery tapped their Shameless Dry Irish Stout on the nitro tap. This beer plus the next couple of weeks should help to get you ready for St. Patrick's Day coming up soon! Get your Irish on now! [1611 S College Ave, Unit 1609, Ft. Collins, CO]

Zwei Brüder Brewing - In an article posted today in the Coloradoan, it is reported that Zwei Brüder Brewing is being legally forced to change their name in order to avoid a lawsuit by Two Brothers Brewing Company in the Chicago, Illinois area. Zwei Brüder means Two Brothers and apparently it is too darn close to the other brewery's name. So starting around the end of May, Zwei Brüder Brewing will change it's name to simply "Zwei Brewing". They plan to roll out a new logo soon. Seems like almost every name in the dictionary is taken for beer these days. [4612 S Mason St, Ft. Collins, CO]

Broken Plow Brewery - It's almost time for members of their Plowshares club to renew for 2015. If you're not currently a member of the Plowshares club and wish to be added to the waiting list, then stop by the brewery on Monday, March 2nd to see if you can join for this year. Don't forget Trivia is tonight at 7pm and also Bingo! [4731 W 10th St, Greeley, CO]

WeldWerks Brewing Co - The brewery is open today from 4pm to 10pm. They have 4 beers on tap including a Coffee Stout, a Red Ale, an IPA and a Hefeweizen. Come taste why Greeley is Colorado's newest craft beer destination. [508 8th Ave, Greeley, CO]

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse - Today's special is $4 off growler fills of their Midnight Strikes Black Lager. And get $2 off growler fills of their other beers. What will you fill your growler with today? [623 Denver Ave, Loveland, CO]

Fort Collins Brewery - FCB is hosting a "Farm to Fork Dinner" at their Tavern this Sunday, March 1st from 6pm to 8pm. The cost is $25 per ticket and includes a full dinner, an FCB beer and live music. Procedes from this event help Friends of Happy Heart Farm. For tix and reservations call (970) 682-2260. [1020 E Lincoln Ave, Ft. Collins, CO]

Verboten Brewing - How about this for a firkin! Verboten is tapping a firkin of their Killer Boots infused with Whoppers malted milk balls. That, plus they have 11 beers on tap. Come in out of the snow and into the taproom. [1550 Taurus Ct, Loveland, CO]

Loveland Aleworks - Have you tried Loveland Aleworks' seasonal ales yet? They've got five of them on tap right now including a Belgian Golden Ale, an American Sour with Black Currants & Strawberries, a Sorachi Ace IPA, a collaboration beer "For The Love of Stout" they did with neighbor brewery Crow Hop Brewing, and Brendan's Scottish Strong Ale. And soon, they will tap another collaboration beer they did with Greeley's brand new brewery Brix Taphouse & Brewery - "Brix-Works Black Ale". It's a dark & hoppy brew that's lower in ABV for sessioning. [118 W 4th St, Loveland, CO]

Like us on Facebook - There's even more Colorado beer happenings and discussions on the Fermentedly Challenged Facebook Page. Find recaps, photos, special offers, and tips that you won't find on the blog.

Colorado Beer News is published on Fermentedly Challenged daily (Monday through Friday) with craft beer stories as they break from newsletters, emails and social media sites. This news is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+). If you'd like to subscribe to this daily by email, sign-up here. Please, always drink responsibly and use a designated driver.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Enjoy this mini-thaw while you can because another round of snow comes in tomorrow. Better stock up on beer to get you through the cold nights ahead. Several Colorado breweries have new tappings and some fun events coming up. Here's what's happening around the Colorado craft beer scene today Tuesday, February 24th, 2015. If you aren't reading this article on FermentedlyChallenged.com, you don't know what you're missing.

Kokopelli Beer Co - Want to work in a brewpub kitchen? Kokopelli Beer Company is hiring for an experienced cook. Job is part-time 28-32 hours a week. Weekend are required. Kitchen experience is a must. If you also have pizza making experience you get bonus points. Contact them at (303) 284-0135 with your qualifications. Meanwhile, Geeks Who Drink Trivia starts tonight! Runs 6:45pm to 8:45pm. Free to play. [8931 Harlan St, Westminster, CO]

Comrade Brewing Co - During a test run on being open on a Monday, they've decide to continue being open on Mondays going forward. So... expect to see them open at 3:00pm every Monday from now on. Also, there will be a food truck on site Wednesday through Saturday this week. [7667 E Iliff Ave, Ste F, Denver, CO] Epic Brewing Co - Epic Brewing's 2014 Growth Report [PRESS RELEASE] Epic Brewing Company, now approaching its fifth year in operation, has continued to grow rapidly by increasing craft beer sales by 54% in 2014. Epic Brewing sold a total of 16,840 barrels of beer between its three breweries, up from 10,950 in 2013. With this increase in sales Epic Brewing is now designated as a Regional Craft Brewer by the Brewer’s Association. Epic’s beers were recognized with eight domestic and international awards in 2014, with each of the following beers winning gold medals: Hop Syndrome Lager at the San Diego International Beer Festival, Smoked Porter at the LA International Beer Competition and Brainless Belgian-Style Golden Ale at the North American Brewers Association. The Denver brewery continued its planned expansion with the addition of three 80 barrel and two 40 barrel fermenters, along with a 40 barrel brite tank, in the early summer of 2014. In late January of this year they added an additional three 120 barrel fermenters and a 120 barrel brite tank, as well as a second 20 Barrel kettle to the brew house. A further two additional 180 barrel fermenters and a corresponding brite tank are planned for delivery in the late summer of 2015. The Denver Brewery also installed a canning line and began packing several beers in 12 oz. cans. Current offerings include the popular Escape to Colorado IPA, which was brewed in celebration of Epic’s expansion to the East side of the Rockies and features Mosaic hops. The second beer to be canned was the 2012 and 2013 Silver Medal Session Beer winner, Hop Syndrome Pils-Lager, which would subsequently win gold at the San Diego International Beer Festival. Hop Syndrome will return this June and become a year- round offering. Epic also introduced Element 29 Pale Ale, an all-Amarillo-hopped American Pale Ale, in October, as a fall seasonal. In February of this year Epic released Lil’ Brainless Raspberries: a 5.2% ABV canned version of its award winning Brainless Raspberries, Belgian-Style Ale, bringing the total offering of 12 oz. canned beers to four. Taking advantage of its growth to meet the demand for Epic beers in other craft-centric regions, Epic opened 4 new major domestic markets in Wisconsin, Montana, Texas and Indiana. This brings Epic’s total number of national markets to 19. In 2015 Epic plans to continue opening new markets in Florida, Kansas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Iowa and Missouri, as well as extend market reach in Texas and California. Epic continued creating jobs and investing in its skilled workforce, and now employs 115 people in Utah and Colorado, with a team of ten sales representatives supporting their 38 distribution partners nationally. [3001 Walnut St, Denver, CO & Salt Lake City, UT]

Living The Dream Brewing Co - Drop in tomorrow, on Wednesday February 25th to get your skis or board waxed and have a pint. For only $15, Eskimo Ski & Board shop will get your gear ready for the mountain while you enjoy a delicious beer. It's not like you really need an excuse to come to the brewery on a Wednesday but now you have one. They also have a tasty new Dunkel on tap! And also, mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 4th at 6pm. They are doing a fundraiser and silent auction where 20% of any drink purchased will go towards supporting a disabled sports facility in Winter Park. There will be a chance to win 2 tickets to Winter Park. Just guess the number of bottle caps in the carboy. [12305 Dumont Way, Unit A, Littleton, CO]

38 State Brewing Company - Visitors to the taproom today will have their choice between 6 beers on tap. Choose from their Pound Town Brown, Two Buttes IPA, Black Saison, Single White Female Blonde, Belgian IPA, and a Smoked Porter. Taster trays of all 6 are available! Trivia is on Wednesday at 7pm. Denver Poker Tour is there on Thursday at 7pm. [8071 S Broadway Ste A, Littleton, CO]

Wonderland Brewing Co - [Newsletter] Going into March, one of the first awesome things they're starting is a special on the Beer of the Week. Every Tuesday, Wonderland Brewing will announce which one of their brews will be a $1 off on Tuesday only! So, stay tuned. The Beer of the Week this week is Cold Weather Friend! Have you seen The Women of Colorado Craft Breweries Calendar hanging in the tasting room? Notice Miss March? Their very own Social Butterfly was featured in this year's calendar and because she's in a fantastic mood, she's decided to lower the price to just $15.99 during the month of March! If you catch her in the tasting room, she'll even sign your calendar - get one this Sunday! Been hearing about the bourbon barrel aged imperial stout that's up for release next? It's official - they are tapping this special craft beer this Sunday, March 1st! Be one of the first to get a fresh glass. More is to come in March, like Crafty Yogis Brewhouse Yoga and another Beer and Cheese Pairing. [5450 W 120th Ave, Broomfield, CO]

Factotum Brewhouse - For a limited time, Factotum Brewhouse is selling memberships in their Local 303 club. For the $495 membership fee, you'll get a free brew session, your first beer every day the taproom is open will be FREE, a beer-cation for members only, and first dibs on extra festival tickets/events. Memberships this year will run through May 1, 2016 so you'll get a few extra months for this first year. If you have questions about the Local 303 club please email them at factotumbrewhouse[at]gmail.com. Enrollment closes May 1st or when they run out. [3845 Lipan St, Denver, CO]

Renegade Brewing Co - Love Girl Scout Cookies? Then you'll want to drop in next Monday, March 2nd for a special Girl Scout Cookie & Beer pairing night. They've picked out 5 Girl Scout Cookie brands and will pair them with 5 different Renegade beers all for $10. The pairing starts at 6pm that night. First come, first served til the cookies run out. Inquire in the taproom. [925 W 9th Ave, Denver, CO]

Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery - It's the last week of stout month and they've released a very special beer - Bourbon Barrel-Aged Addiction Coffee Imperial Stout. This brew was aged for months in Maker's Mark bourbon barrels. The beer was made back in the Fall of 2013 and aged for a full year. Get a snifter full for $8 or a sampler for $4.75. Also check out: Brett Stoudt American Wild Stoudt (8.2% ABV), The KRÄKEN light smoked & spiced stout. Available at all five locations. [1535 Pearl St, Boulder, CO]

Asher Brewing Co - Today they will release a special tapping of "Peace of Porter" in their Gunbarrel tasting room. This beer is described as roasted and chocolaty. Stats: 5.5% ABV and 25 IBU. They opened at 2pm today. [4699 Nautilus Ct, Ste 104, Boulder, CO]

Wild Woods Brewery - Tonight you will get Happy Hour prices on beer all night. Plus, double stamps on all growler fills on Wednesday, February 25th. Then on Thursday, they will release their Barrel Aged Butternut Brown ale. Come taste beers inspired by the great Colorado outdoors. [5460 Conestoga Ct, Boulder, CO]

Großen Bart Brewery - Their Soul Patch Porter is once again back on tap - just in time for Ladies Night tonight. Ladies get $1 off pints every Tuesday from 4pm til close. [1025 Delaware Ave, Longmont, CO]

City Star Brewing - [PRESS RELEASE] Warning: Outlaw on the Loose! Keep a look out for Outlaw, the first in City Star Brewing's barrel aged series and the first City Star brew available in bottles. Outlaw will be released at the City Star taproom in Berthoud, Colorado on Saturday, March 7th. Outlaw weighs in at 13.25% alcohol by volume and has spent 1 year "doing time" in Breckenridge Whiskey barrels waiting for the chance to bust out. While incarcerated Outlaw mellowed nicely and includes flavors of dark chocolate, toffee, dark fruit, oak, vanilla, and of course American whiskey. Outlaw is a rare limited release (only 970 bottles) specialty beer and the first City Star brew available in bottles. Each 22oz bottle has been sealed in red wax and individually numbered. Outlaw will be available for purchase exclusively in City Star Brewing's taproom starting Saturday, March 7th at 12pm. Bottles will be sold for $18 each (plus tax) with a one case (12 bottles) limit per person. Catch this Outlaw before it escapes again and put it where it belongs... in your belly. City Star Brewing co-owner and head brewer John Way says, "We've been barrel aging beers since year one and we are excited to have Outlaw be our first bottled beer. The imperial stout base beer used for Outlaw is amazing on its own, and then we introduced this big, delicious brew to age in whiskey oak barrels for one year. The barrels impart a very complex dark chocolate and charred oak body with a very bold whiskey aroma that turned this phenomenal beer into something very special that can be aged for years to come.” [321 Mountain Ave, Berthoud, CO]

New Belgium Brewing - Progress is coming along at their Asheville, NC location. [PRESS RELEASE] New Belgium’s Asheville fermentation vessels and bright beer tanks are scheduled to arrive at their east coast home by mid-March. Two dozen FVs and a half dozen BBTs departed from ZIEMANN in Bürgstadt Germany in January and arrived to the Port of Charleston, SC, in early February. New Belgium is building an east coast location with an expected capacity of 500,000 barrels. The oversized vessels require rolling road closures and NC Department of Transportation approved routing and police escort, as they arrive to New Belgium Asheville. The vessels are currently scheduled to arrive during daylight hours between Monday, March 9 and Saturday, March 14, pending weather delays. They will travel in pairs with a minimum of 30 minutes between arrivals. Installation of the vessels will also begin this week. The two dozen FVs have varying sizes between 32 and 52 feet tall with net volumes between 547 and 1860 hectoliters or up to 49,000 gallons. They house the process where yeast ferments wort into beer and allow the liquid to condition and mature. The six BBTs, which store beer before packaging, are approximately 55 feet tall with net volume of 2090 hectoliters, equivalent to about 55,000 gallons. New Belgium’s 200 hectoliter brewhouse system arrived seamlessly and on schedule in January with support from NC DOT, the districts along the route, Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, and the Asheville Police Department. Public hiring for the Asheville location kicked off last month, with two dozen positions filled as of February 2015. New Belgium anticipates brewing beer in Asheville by the end of 2015.

High Hops Brewery - There's a new firkin that'll be tapped this Wednesday at 5pm. Stop by to try their Vanilla Barn Owl, an American-style Hefeweizen with vanilla beans and aged 6 months on cherrywood. Then coming up on Thursday, February 26th will be the release of "License to 'IL, an India Lager weighing in at a hefty 8.25% ABV. Live music this week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday too. Food trucks also on site Thursday through Sunday. [6461 Hwy 392, Windsor, CO]

Snowbank Brewing Co - On Wednesday night, February 25th from 6pm to 8pm, Snowbank Brewing will be hosting the first Ft. Collins Community Night for Gociety. Meet with other fellow outdoor enthusiasts, drink some beers and plan some new adventures. The first beer is on Gociety and get $1 off any more beers after that. [225 N Lemay Ave, Ste 1, Ft. Collins, CO]

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Colorado Beer News is published on Fermentedly Challenged daily (Monday through Friday) with craft beer stories as they break from newsletters, emails and social media sites. This news is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+). If you'd like to subscribe to this daily by email, sign-up here. Please, always drink responsibly and use a designated driver.

Monday, February 23, 2015

All that shoveling of snow over the weekend made you thirsty! While there's a calm in the weather, it's a good time to get out and restock for the next storm. Today's news has some tips on what's new at the breweries along the front range in Colorado. Several new brewery openings over the weekend and this week. Check 'em out! Here's what's happening around the Colorado craft beer scene today Monday, February 23rd, 2015. If you aren't reading this article on FermentedlyChallenged.com, you don't know what you're missing.

Goldspot Brewing Co - Denver's newest brewery opened on Saturday, February 21st with 6 beers on tap including: a collaboration honey IPA with Cerebral Brewing, a regular IPA, a Belgian Pale Ale, a Coffee Cocoa Porter, an Imperial Stout, and a Kolsch-style Golden Ale. Follow them on Facebook or visit them on their site at: www.goldspotbrewing.com. Located at: [4970 Lowell Blvd, Denver, CO]

Factotum Brewhouse - This brand new brewery has been hosting some soft openings last weekend and plans to host their official Grand Opening on Thursday, February 26th at 4:00pm. Initially, they plan to have the following business hours: Thursdays 4pm-10pm, Fridays 3pm-10pm, and Saturdays 12pm - 10pm. Their business model is focused on helping homebrewers and other amateur brewers create batches of beer on their system. Factotum Brewhouse will act as a stage for others to showcase their beers. It's all about supporting local brewers at all levels of skill and helping them brew up some great ales. Most of the beers brewed by guest/homebrewers will be put on tap at Factotum. Just about any style may show up on tap - it all depends on the homebrewer's imagination. Visit them this starting this Thursday at: [3845 Lipan St, Denver, CO]

Mu Brewery - Everyone gulped down their Pumpkin Peach they released over the weekend. Within the first 24 hours they went through 50 gallons or 1/3 of the Pumpkin Peach Ale stock. There's still some left so if you haven't tried it out yet come on down soon. It's billed as "The King Of Spoof Beers". Open today at 3pm if you haven't tried it yet. [9735 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO] Fiction Beer Company - [PRESS RELEASE] Fiction Beer Company is getting ready to release a new beer this month that will surely draw fans from miles around. Fiction Beer Company has made a niche for themselves by finding inspiration in their favorite works of Fiction. Head brewer Ryan Kilpatrick says, “We like to take traditional styles and give them a twist using interesting flavors or unique processes. We also like to develop fun and interesting experimental beers like Denouement (Raspberry Quad with Brett) and Somewhere Around Barstow (Fruited IPA).” In anticipation of spring, warmer weather and their forthcoming patio (opening in May) Fiction will be releasing a new beer. This new beer, Waves and Ripples, is a Gose (a slightly sour salted German Wheat Beer). Gose is a beer style from a small region in Germany that had a high sodium chloride content in their aquifers. The salt content of the water is transferred into this beer as no filtration was available when this style came to fruition. A Gose has a slight lactic acid sour character which can be difficult to impart without overpowering the other ingredients or developing an off flavor. In order to obtain this classic flavor the brewers at Fiction used a technique known as kettle souring. The sugary liquid that would become this beer was placed into the kettle with souring organisms and a heavy dose of carbon dioxide which helps prevent development of off flavors. Once the appropriate pH was achieved the now sour liquid was boiled and the souring organisms killed off, locking in the flavor. In order to enhance and fill out the flavor profile of this beer a lime sea salt was used which contributes a citric acid flavor to complement the lactic acid. Another traditional ingredient in a Gose, coriander, was added but of course Fiction doesn't always stick with tradition, so they also used cardamom and makrut lime leaves as well. All combined this light, refreshing, easy drinking, and sessionable sour beer is sure to be a spring hit. Fiction’s Waves and Ripples Gose is 4% ABV with 5 IBUs and will be released at the brewery on Wednesday February 25th at 6pm. [7101 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO]

Dad & Dude's Breweria - [PRESS RELEASE] The Fermentologists recently held a member’s only competition with Dad & Dude’s Breweria in Aurora, CO. This collaboration gave members an opportunity to do what every homebrewers dreams of doing; creating a recipe and brewing on a professional system at a local brewery. “We were excited to invite the club to join us and look forward to doing this again with them,” said Brian Connery, Head Brewer at Dad & Dude’s Breweria. “Since all of us here at Dad & Dude's stated as homebrewers, we know what kind of an opportunity it is for them. We enjoy having them in and their enthusiasm is appreciated." - As part of the competition, members were paired into one of four teams and asked to brew a 'Winter Warmer' beer. Teams were challenged to create a recipe that included specific ingredients. These ingredients included something from a tree in Colorado, at least one kind of fruit, a type of adjunct sugar, Maris Otter as their base malt, and White Labs English Ale for their yeast. Each Winter Warmer also had to be above 6% ABV. Members of the Fermentologists worked hard during the month of November to perfect their recipes and brew their beers. Once the beers were ready to drink, Connery and his team sampled the beers and selected one winning recipe. The winner was a Chocolate Raspberry Stout called ‘Winter Yum Yum’ brewed by Nick Arias and Cole Hinson. The Winter Yum Yum included spruce tips, raspberries, chocolate nibs, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. The final ABV was 9.4%. The homebrew recipe can be viewed at https://www.brewtoad.com/recipes/winter-yum-yum. Arias and Hinson brewed a scaled up version of Winter Yum Yum at Dad & Dude's on February 5. The scaled up version will be 6% so that it is more approachable to guests. It was made with 60 pounds of fresh raspberries that were juiced. The juice and the puree were both added to the beer at the end of the boil. “It was important for us to collaborate with a brewery that fit our founding principles: Education, Community, and Competition,” said Scott Davidson, President of The Fermentologists. “Brian and his team at Dad & Dude’s take risks and challenge the industry head-on. They continuously exceed expectation from the founding days of brewing on homebrewing equipment, to canning their signature DANK IPA, to now barrel aging beers and expanding their canning line to include two more beers.” - Dad & Dude’s and the Fermentologists will continue these collaboration competitions quarterly, having each style and parameters decided by Connery and the Dad & Dude’s team. The next quarterly competitions will focus on traditional saisons. The Winter Yum Yum will be tapped at 7 p.m. on February 23 at Dad & Dude's Breweria in Parker. [6730 S Cornerstar Way Ste D, Aurora, CO]

Breckenridge Brewery - [PRESS RELEASE] The year 2015 will be one of growth and innovation for Breckenridge Brewery. With its new farm-inspired brewery campus opening in May, the brewery projects 30% growth in volume and the flexibility to produce more small-batch beers, exciting collaborations, and interesting one-offs. The new brewery in Littleton, Colorado, is wrapping up construction. In addition to the 76,000 square-foot brewery, cellar, and warehouse buildings, the campus includes its Farm House restaurant, which promises an open and welcoming visitor experience with a farm-to-table menu, an outdoor beer garden and music venue, and a world-class tour program. Last year was a challenging year for Breckenridge Brewery as it fought capacity constraints which held the brewery at 64,371 barrels, a 4.15% increase in volume over 2013. But a look at the core business shows impressive brand health. The Vanilla Porter brand posted growth of 21.3%. The seasonal portfolio grew 11.6%. Variety pack business grew 29.4%, with Rocky Mountain Sampler growing 51% in the brewery's home market since the package's redesign in July. Avalanche Amber Ale bucked style trends to grow 6.7%. Despite its capacity limitations, the brewery was able to grow key brands by strategically freeing up fermentation space. It discontinued a 3.2% ABV beer brewed only for Colorado and reduced lagers in its portfolio, most notably spring seasonal Pandora’s Bock, which has been replaced with Ophelia Hoppy Wheat. George O'Neill, Director of Sales for Breckenridge Brewery, shares that, "The sales staff worked hard to establish clear brand standards with distributor and retail networks which drove growth on the items identified as the core. This disciplined approach has set us up well for 2015 as we make the move to our new brewery." - This year the company is doubling its sales and marketing staff, another strategic move to add support to its distribution networks and provide more resources to launch new brands. "We're building up our barrel-aged program, something we wouldn't be able to do without our new brewery," says Todd Usry, Brewmaster and Director of Brewing Operations. "We're also experimenting with new hop and malt varieties and have plans for some great collaborations with other brewers this year." Two barrel-aged limited release beers are presently conditioning, soon to be released in draft. Spring seasonal Ophelia is aging in tequila barrels, while 471 Double IPA soaks in whiskey barrels awaiting fresh hops. "You'll see more of these special treatments in the second half of this year," Usry adds. 2015 will be a landmark year for Breckenridge Brewery. Evidence won't just be found on the shelves and in pubs, ale houses, and restaurants. Locals and visitors to Colorado should put the Littleton brewery on the "must see" list for a unique beer tour experience. "A lot of thought has gone into the guest experience at the Littleton brewery," explains Todd Thibault, the brewery's Culture Czar. "We want to make sure people see us for who we are - a fun-loving bunch of folks who take pride in making great beer and living the Colorado lifestyle. We hope to create a connection with each and every one of our guests. Most of all, we want them to have fun along with us - whether they drive, bike or float down the Platte River to get to us." [471 Kalamath St, Denver, CO] (Photo courtesy Breckenridge Brewery)

Joyride Brewing Co - The brewery has a new beer on tap - Blucifer, a Belgian-style Golden Strong Ale. It has the aroma of red apples, pear, with white pepper. There's also a champagne-like effervescence along with a big white head. Stop in for a try tonight. Also join in their Euchre tournament tonight - bring a partner or find one in the taproom. [2501 Sheridan Blvd, Edgewater, CO]

38 State Brewing Co - There's plenty of beer and happenings this week. On Wednesday, play Trivia starting at 7pm. On Thursday, try your hand at Poker with the Denver Poker Tour (free to play) at 7pm. Live music on Friday with Indigent Row at 7pm and on Saturday with Chancer's Hooley at 7pm. Then work it off on Sunday with Outlaw Yoga at 10:30am. [8071 S Broadway Ste A, Littleton, CO]

Lone Tree Brewing Co - Starting on March 8th, LTBC will start offering a special guided brewery tour deal. For $10 get a tour of their brewhouse, a pint of beer and a pint glass to take home. Inquire in the taproom. [8200 Park Meadows Dr, Ste 8222, Lone Tree, CO]

Zephyr Brewing Co - For the rest of the winter (until the end of March anyway), Zephyr Brewing Co will have new winter business hours: Sundays 12-9pm, Mon-Thurs 3pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-Midnight. Their original hours will return starting April 1st. [1421 26th St, Denver, CO]

Sanitas Brewing Co - [PRESS RELEASE] On the heels of the first release in Sanitas Brewing Company’s new Wild and Sour Project, the Boulder brewery is set to unveil the second installment in the series. Bramble, a blackberry sour ale, will be released on draft at Sanitas’ Tap Room on Monday, February 23rd. “We often hear people say they don’t like fruit beers,” explained Sanitas’ Co-Founder Zach Nichols, “Bramble will make them second guess that notion. It’s loaded with complex sour notes, deep oak undertones, and finishes crisp and dry with a lingering blackberry characteristic.” - The brewers at Sanitas brewed a batch of pale wort last Winter. The beer was then transferred to and fermented in neutral oak barrels with a proprietary blend of wild yeast and bacteria. Blackberries were added near the end of fermentation for further layers of complexity. Pouring light ruby in color and 4% ABV., Bramble is a beautiful example of sour, barrel-fermented fruit beer. Bramble will be released to the public in Sanitas’ Tap Room Monday, February 23rd when they open at 3pm. [3550 Frontier Ave, Ste A, Boulder, CO]

Crystal Springs Brewing Co - [Newsletter] Their Fifth Anniversary is coming up on May 13th and they're planning to party hardy! That week is also American Craft Beer Week. In trying to decide what beer they should make to celebrate their Fifth Anniversary, they thought it might be fun if they could get some help from you. So, if you’d like to help, please let them know what style of beer you would like to see released on May 13th. On March 13th, they'll publish the top five vote getters and let you vote on your favorite. On April 1st they'll count the votes and that will be the beer they brew for release at their May 13th Fifth Anniversary Celebration. So please vote for the style you would like us to make by emailing your style choice to vote@crystalspringsbrewing.com. Also, they celebrate the 13th of every month with a party at the brewery. They also like to celebrate other holidays that occur in each month. Since St. Patrick’s Day occurs in March, they'll be releasing an Irish Red on March 13th. If you wear a kilt or bring your bagpipes to their celebration on March 13th, they'll give you a dollar off each beer you purchase and if you don’t play your bagpipes, they'll give you your first beer free! [657 S Taylor Ave, Unit E, Louisville, CO]

BRU Handbuilt Ales & Eats - Today they are releasing "Pinesnarl", a Cascadian Dark Ale weighing in at 6.5% ABV. This beer was made with Colorado spruce tips and chocolate malt. It's roasty, toasty and available only for a limited time. [5290 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO]

Boulder Beer Co - Good news beer lovers. Pitchers of their Hazed Hoppy Session Ale are just $14 a pitcher every Monday after 3pm in their Pub. [2880 Wilderness Pl, Boulder, CO]

Odell Brewing Co - [PRESS RELEASE] In early March, Odell Brewing will release Brazzle Sour Golden Raspberry Ale. Part of the brewery’s Cellar Series, Brazzle is an oak aged golden ale brewed with golden raspberries. “We used golden raspberries to brew with, which gives this sour a touch of sweetness. There is also a bright, tart fruit and citrus flavor that comes through,” said Barrel Aging/Pilot System Manager, Brent Cordle. “The sour acidity plays well with the raspberry flavor. This is a very unique sour, and WELL worth the wait!” - The base beer in Brazzle is a crisp golden ale that was aged and soured in former Woodcut barrels for a little over two years. 300 pounds of raspberries were added before and after the barrel aging process, giving the beer both a puckering tartness and a hint of raspberry sweetness. Brazzle is offered in 750 ml, cork and cage finished bottles, and will be available within the brewery’s eleven state distribution area this spring. Odell Brewing will celebrate the release of Brazzle in the Tap Room February 27th – March 1st. Guests can enjoy samples of the beer, and live music on Sunday afternoon. A special Welsh Rabbit cheese pairing plate will also be available for purchase (while supplies last). For more details on the beer and the Tap Room release party, please visit the brewery’s blog.

Fort Collins Brewery - [PRESS RELEASE] Fort Collins, Colo. – FCB (Fort Collins Brewery) announces the return of its spring seasonal brew, Maibock for the 11th consecutive year on Friday. A gold medal winner at BTI World Beer Championships, Maibock features a smooth malty flavor attained from the richness of Munich malts that finishes with a gentle warming sweetness. Toffee notes and understated hop bitterness round out the bock experience. Maibock is brewed in the fall, aged in the winter and celebrated in the spring. “Maibock has been around since the beginning of the FCB brand and it’s truly become a part of our family,” said Tina Peters, General Manager at FCB. “Its sweet malt profile, yet subtle hop character is something to look forward To celebrate the release of Maibock, FCB is hosting a Goat Cheese Making Class and Pairing Dinner in the FCB Community Room on Thursday, March 26th. Newborn goats will make a special guest appearance at the brewery. The class option, which runs from 6 – 7 p.m. is $35 per ticket. The class and dinner pairing, with dinner served at 7 p.m. is $50 per ticket. To RSVP, email rsvp@fortcollinsbrewery.com. Maibock is available in 22 oz. bombers and on draft throughout FCB’s distribution footprint. It will be available to ship beginning the week of February 23rd and will be out through June.

WeldWerks Brewing Co - After a long journey, WeldWerks Brewing Company opened for business over the weekend in Greeley, CO. WeldWerks becomes the 5th brewery in Greeley and opens less than a month after Brix Taphouse & Brewery did just a few blocks away. WeldWerks renovated an old car dealership building on the corner of 8th Avenue and 5th Street. They started out with 3 beers on tap including a Red Ale, a Coffee Stout and an IPA. They'll also soon have a Hefeweizen. They will be open again starting Wednesday. Taproom hours are: Wed-Thur 4pm-10pm, Fri 4pm-11pm, Sat 2pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-6pm. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. [508 8th Ave, Greeley, CO]

Fort Collins Brewery - FCB has unleashed Giles - a Golden Imperial Ale. Last Friday, FCB let loose their villainous monster! Giles may be a light-bodied brew, but he's as complex of a creature as any. The fighting trilogy of fruity esters, light, spicy hops and sweet notes of alcohol supported by a soft malt character create an all too familiar mischief-maker. 10.2% ABV. Now available. [1020 E Lincoln Ave, Ft. Collins, CO]

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse - Another new brew is coming onto the tap lines this Saturday, February 28th. Come then to check out "Bearskin", a dry stout that's perfect for the upcoming St. Patrick's day season. This brew has Noble hops and their classic house yeast. It's quite sessionable at 4.2% ABV and 45 IBU. It's got coffee characteristics and a creamy tan head. Slainte! [623 Denver Ave, Loveland, CO]

Pateros Creek Brewing Co - The Ultimate Pi Day is coming - 3/14/15 and Pateros Creek is planning to celebrate big time. All day long they will have free carnival games and FREE pie. As well as four delicious Pie flavored beers! There will be random ways to win free schwag and beer, like pie/pi trivia and pie/pi drawing contest. Plus, anyone wearing their Ultimate Pi Day t-shirt will receive 20% off pints! PCBC Pi Day Shirts go on sale starting today! There's a sign up for them in the taproom until close on Thursday 2/26. The final shirts will be royal blue and will have 3.141592653 on the sleeve. $20.00 gets you a sweet and super soft shirt, as well as dollar off pints on 3/14. [242 N College Ave, Ft. Collins, CO]

Berthoud Brewing Co - Come try their new 1888 ESB - now on tap. Also this week - Tuesdays are growler fill days where you'll get a free pint with your growler fill. Wednesday is Wings day and get $1 off pints for all day Happy Hour. On Thursday, get $1 off their Staff Pick of the Week: Farmhouse RyePA. On Friday, they will tap a keg of cask conditioned Caramel Brownie Stout at 5pm. Plus, live music on Saturday 6:30pm - 9:30pm from Danny Shafer. [450 8th St, Ste B, Berthoud, CO]

Road 34 Bike Bar - [PRESS RELEASE] On Wednesday, February 25th at 6pm Road 34 and Odell Brewing Co. are teaming up to throw an event for all of the barrel-aged beer fans out there. The special kegs being tapped will include a vertical tapping of 2013 and 2014 “Fernet Porter”, a brand new bourbon barrel aged imperial porter called “Wicked Underbite”, and a keg of the cherry-raspberry sour ale “Friek” form 2013. This event is free and open to the public, and it coincides with the last home game of the CSU Rams men’s basketball team which begins at 7 pm. [1213 W Elizabeth St, Ft. Collins, CO]

Snowbank Brewing Co - There's still some brews left over from this weekend's Half Anniversary celebration. Stop in to try" Ghana Chocolate Stout, The Wakatu Experience single hop ale, Winey Blonde Belgian ale, and Bee's Knees small batch IPA Braggot. Plus they now have more Moon Arete Wheat back on tap. Open today from 2pm to 6pm. [225 N Lemay Ave, Ste 1, Ft. Collins, CO]

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Colorado Beer News is published on Fermentedly Challenged daily (Monday through Friday) with craft beer stories as they break from newsletters, emails and social media sites. This news is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+). If you'd like to subscribe to this daily by email, sign-up here. Please, always drink responsibly and use a designated driver.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Don't let today's great weather fool you - the snow is coming! Better stock up on beer while you're out today. Fermentedly Challenged has some tips on what you'll need to know and who's got some specials happening. Plus, there are some events coming up you'll want to know about too. Also - Happy Chinese New Year - Year of the Goat/Ram/Sheep. Also, the Colorado Rockies open Spring Training today. Here's what's happening around the Colorado craft beer scene today Thursday, February 19th, 2015. If you aren't reading this article on FermentedlyChallenged.com, you don't know what you're missing.

Beryl's Beer Co - Are you stiff and sore from a hard day's work? Come in to Beryl's tonight for some beer and partake in a free chair massage (but be sure to tip your therapist). Plus, it's also Ladies Night where the gals get $1 off all full pours from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. And 5280 Sliders will be on hand with some tasty food. [3120-C Blake St, Denver, CO]

Joyride Brewing Co - Taking a shot at that big brewery, Joyride just finished kettle souring their Peachwood Aged Pumpkin Peach Berliner Weisse and placed it in the fermenter. This brew should be ready to tap around mid-March. Beer made the hard way. Enjoy the ride. [2501 Sheridan Blvd, Edgewater, CO]

All 5 Breweries in Golden, CO - Recently, all 5 craft breweries in Golden, Colorado got together to brew up a collaboration beer. Participating breweries included: AC Golden, Barrels & Bottles Brewery, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co, Golden City Brewery, and Mountain Toad. On Thursday, March 19th, they will debut "Gateway Golden Saison" during a sneak peak at Foothills Art Center at the official beer release party. This beer will also be poured at the Collaboration Fest in March. Tickets to this preview release are $5 (plus service fee) and available on Eventbrite. Foothills Art Center is located at: [809 15th St, Golden, CO] Barrels & Bottles Brewery - [PRESS RELEASE] Barrels & Bottles Brewery in downtown Golden was just named the 2014 Golden Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. This longstanding recognition is dedicated annually to a for-profit member of the Golden Chamber of Commerce that has contributed to both the local economy and to regional activities in exceptional ways. “Barrels & Bottles has already established themselves in the Golden community,” says the Chamber’s Member Services Director Jayne Byl about the less than two-year-old brewpub. “In a couple of quick, crazy years they have contributed to the community by honoring others with fundraising opportunities, as well as participating in street fairs and several other City of Golden events.” - Barrels & Bottles regularly supports Chamber of Commerce functions like the Taste of Golden, the Fine Arts Festival, the Golden Chili Cook-off & Beer Festival, First Friday events, and the Golden Ladies Only Sample Tour, among other events and organizations. Zach and Abby George are also members of the Chamber’s Young Professionals Group. [600 12th St, Golden, CO]

Breckenridge Brewery - {Newsletter] Their second Barleywine has finally matured, and they can't wait to share it with you. Please join Breckenridge Brewery as they pop open some bottles and indulge in vertical tastings of Barleywine Batch #1 and Barleywine Batch #2 on Friday, February 27th from 6pm to 8pm at their brewery in Denver. Come Party Amongst the Fermenters with live music and chocolate & cheese pairings. PLUS - the first “Golden Ticket*” will be given to one lucky person! If you were with them last year, you know that Barleywine Batch #1 is a traditional English-style barley wine cold conditioned for months and then aged in fresh American Oak barrels ~ rich and delectable. Barleywine Batch #2 offers a new twist on the original. Aged in French oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, this year's Barleywine gives off aromas of prune, molasses and wet oak. It hits the palate with more prunes, round maltiness and a bit of hops, with subtle hints of cabernet in the finish. Batch #1 and Batch #2 are packaged in stately 22-oz wax-topped bottles. This beer cellars beautifully ~ they encourage it ~ in fact, for those who arrive early enough, you'll find they've cellared some Batch #1 for you! Limited Batch #1 bottles will be available for sale as will plenty of Batch #2. This is your chance to taste, buy, and cellar some before it even hits the market. *The Golden Ticket provides entry for two on the FIRST day tours are available at our new brewery in Littleton, CO. Only 50 Golden Tickets exist! Golden Ticket holders will be among the first to get a glimpse inside our new digs. Saturday, June 20, is the day for fifty oh-so-lucky ones and their guests. [471 Kalamath St, Denver, CO]

38 State Brewing Co - Are you good at bluffing? Can you keep a good poker face? Then you should come and play at the free poker event tonight at 38 State Brewing. Denver Poker Tour is hosting this event. You'll have a chance to win free prizes. Plus, pizza will be available from Jet's. And don't forget to try the beer. [8071 S Broadway, Ste A, Littleton, CO]

Mu Brewery - Today is Kill The Keg day featuring their Pumpkin Peach Ale starting at 3pm. They'll stay open past their normal closing time until people stop coming in. In fact they'll extend Thursday hours for good in a couple weeks. Enjoy this beer - brewed the easy way. [9735 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO]

Chain Reaction Brewing Co - Just tapped for Chinese New Year - a Wit beer spiced up with Chinese 5 spice. There's also a re-release of their "Look What I Saaz" session smash beer and a single hop pale ale with Belma hops. The doors open at 3pm today. The Taste of Texas BBQ truck will also be on site. [902 S Lipan St, Denver, CO]

Barrels & Bottles Brewery - Come taste a new experimental beer inspired by the infamous White Russian cocktail - The Big LeBEERski. An imperial golden stout with Guatemalan coffee from Pangea Coffee Roasters in Golden. If you come in sporting a bathrobe today you'll get a $1 off this special brew. It taps at 3pm. [600 12th St, Golden, CO]

Dad & Dude's Breweria - Here's a great deal. Whenever you spend $30 at Dad & Dude's Breweria, you can also take home any Quad Pack of their canned beer for just $6. It's the only place in Aurora that you can get both pizza and beer to go! [6730 S Cornerstar Way, Ste D, Aurora, CO]

Station 26 Brewing Co - Today at 4pm sharp they will celebrate Firkin Thursday with a tapping of a Horchata Milk Stout. Also, food available from Meatball will be served until about 9pm. [7045 E 38th Ave, Denver, CO]

Boulder Strong Ale Fest - Better get your tickets while they're available! Tickets for this year's Boulder Strong Ale Fest go on sale TOMORROW, Friday February 20th at 9am Mountain Time for the event to be held at the new Avery Brewing Company location on Saturday, April 4th, 2015. $50 will get you 16 pours and a commemorative glass. All proceeds benefit the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. All brews are 8% ABV or higher from craft breweries around the country. Buy tickets online. While you're at it, better make hotel or UBER reservations too - nobody's driving home from this one. [4910 Nautilus Ct, Boulder, CO]

Avery Brewing Co - This Sunday, February 22nd at 11am marks the annual return of Uncle Jacob's Stout, a stout aged in bourbon barrels. This is Batch No. 4 and was bottled on February 13th. This big 16.9% ABV beer will be sold in 12oz bottles with a limit of 1 case (24 bottles) per person. Beers will be flowing from Avery's two 30=tap walls, plus a dining menu will also be available. Once this sale is done, the rest will be distributed throughout 20 different states. [4910 Nautilus Ct, Boulder, CO]

Wild Woods Brewery - Good news for barleywine fans. Their Frozen Forest Barleywine is now back on tap today. This is a big 10% hop forward brew with lots of Centennial, Chinook and Simcoe hops, plus the addition of fresh spruce needles and coriander. A great beer for the cold days ahead. [5460 Conestoga Ct, Boulder, CO]

Southern Sun - This Friday, February 20th is Meet the Brewer Friday at both Southern Sun in Boulder and Vine Street Pub in Denver. Their brewers have truly enjoyed getting to know the folks that so faithfully drink their offerings, so they're doing it again this week. Join in at either the Southern Sun or Vine Street Pubs and Breweries Friday from 6-8pm to hang with the guys who put their hearts into the stouts you love! And if you do, a free brewery tour and stout tasting is on the house. Southern Sun: [627 S Broadway St, Boulder, CO] - Vine Street Pub is at: [1700 Vine St, Denver, CO]

Echo Brewing Co - Good news! Today marks the return of their award winning Munich Helles on tap. Come get some ahead of the snow! [5969 Iris Pkwy, Frederick, CO]

New Belgium Brewing - The sweet and spicy chocolate porter Cocoa Molé is back! Now available in 22oz bomber bottles. After it became such a big hit in 2012 they decided to bring it back once again. It's available just for a limited time - stock up! Plus, you can now get the 2015 versions of their La Folie and Transatlantique Kriek in bomber bottles too. Coming soon: an Oatmeal IPA! [500 Linden St, Ft. Collins, CO]

City Star Brewing - Coming up on Saturday, March 7th, City Star will hold it's first bottle release. The first bottled beer is Outlaw: a whiskey barrel-aged Imperial Stout. It's a big big beer weighing in at 13.25% ABV. It's been aging in a Breckenridge Whisky Barrel for a year! You won't want to miss this one. Meanwhile, stop in tonight for a pint and listen to live music from Bonnie & Taylor Simms of "Bonnie and the Clydes". [321 Mountain Ave, Berthoud, CO]

Brix Taphouse & Brewery - Live music returns to Brix Taphouse & Brewery this Saturday, February 21st at 8pm with a performance from "Locally Grown". Choose from over 60 beers on tap and dozens in bottles and cans. Food also available from their small kitchen. Come check out the fun on 8th Street downtown. [813 8th St, Greeley, CO]

1933 Brewing Co - Have you tried their latest two beers yet? Stop in for a pint of their Amber Ale and their Bathtub Blonde Ale. It's Thirsty Thursday after all. Stop in after work. Open from 3pm to 8pm today. [4025 S Mason St, Ft. Collins, CO]

Black Bottle Brewery - BBB is the focus of a special beer release and tap-takeover tonight at 5pm at The Whisk(e)y in Fort Collins. Come try the new "Dark Ritual", a 1792 Bourbon Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout with vanilla beans and cocoa. It's also game night there with "Dungeons & Drafts" at The Whisk(e)y. The beer and the games start flowing at 5pm. The Whisk(e)y is located at: 214 S College Ave, Ft. Collins, CO]

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